Paycheck tax calculator for 2026
Type your pay before tax and how often it lands. See what federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your state take, and what's left, per paycheck and for the year.
Checked October 22, 2026
On $65,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks, take-home comes to about $2,093 a paycheck before state tax: $216 goes to federal income tax, $155 to Social Security and $36 to Medicare. The calculator below works it out for your pay.
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Take-home pay
$2,093per paycheck
| Line | Per paycheck | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Pay before tax | $2,500 | $65,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$216 | −$5,620 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$155 | −$4,030 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$36 | −$943 |
| Take-home | $2,093 | $54,408 |
State income tax is left out. Pick your state above if it's listed.
An estimate for 2026: the year's income tax spread evenly over your paychecks, using the standard deduction. Your employer uses the IRS withholding tables and your W-4, so a real paycheck can be a little different. Credits (like the child tax credit), other income and local taxes aren't included.
Your state's paycheck calculator
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What comes out of a paycheck
- Money before tax. A traditional 401(k) or 403(b), and health, dental and vision insurance through work. Both skip federal income tax. Health insurance through work also skips Social Security and Medicare; a 401(k) doesn't.
- Federal income tax. On a year's pay, less the money before tax and the standard deduction, bracket by bracket.
- Social Security. 6.2% of pay, up to $184,500 of pay in 2026. Past that, it stops for the year.
- Medicare. 1.5% of all pay, and 0.9% more on wages over $200,000. Your employer starts withholding the extra at $200,000 whatever your filing status.
- State income tax, in most states, and in some places a city or county tax and a state disability or paid leave program.
2026 federal tax brackets
Each rate applies only to the income inside its bracket. The figures are taxable income, after the standard deduction.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0+ | $0+ | $0+ |
| 12% | $12,400+ | $24,800+ | $17,700+ |
| 22% | $50,400+ | $100,800+ | $67,450+ |
| 24% | $105,700+ | $211,400+ | $105,700+ |
| 32% | $201,775+ | $403,550+ | $201,750+ |
| 35% | $256,225+ | $512,450+ | $256,200+ |
| 37% | $640,600+ | $768,700+ | $640,600+ |
A worked example
Say you earn $65,000 a year, file single and are paid every two weeks (26 paychecks of $2,500).
- Taxable income: $65,000 less the $16,100 standard deduction is $48,900.
- Federal income tax: 10% of the first $12,400 ($1,240) plus 12% of the next $36,500 ($4,380), or $5,620 a year. That's $216 a paycheck.
- Social Security: 6.2% of $65,000 is $4,030, or $155 a paycheck.
- Medicare: 1.45% of $65,000 is $942.50, or $36 a paycheck.
- Take-home: $54,407.50 a year, about $2,093 a paycheck.
Now put 6% in a traditional 401(k), $150 a paycheck. Federal income tax drops by $468 a year, about $18 a paycheck, so take-home goes down by about $132, not $150.
Questions people ask
How much tax comes out of my paycheck?
Three federal pieces come out of most paychecks: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% of pay up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000). Most states take income tax too. On $65,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks, the federal pieces come to about $407 a paycheck before any state tax.
How do I calculate my take-home pay?
Start with pay before tax. Take off anything that comes out before tax, like a 401(k) or health insurance through work. Work out the year's federal income tax on what's left after the standard deduction, then take off Social Security, Medicare and state tax. Divide the year by how many paychecks you get.
Does a 401(k) lower my taxes?
A traditional (pre-tax) 401(k) lowers federal income tax, and in most states state income tax too. It doesn't lower Social Security or Medicare, the IRS says. So $150 into a 401(k) shrinks a paycheck by less than $150.
Why is my paycheck different from this calculator?
Your employer uses the IRS withholding tables and your W-4, which can differ a little from the tax you end up owing. Credits like the child tax credit, a second job, bonuses and local taxes also change it. This calculator spreads the year's tax evenly, which is what a full year of paychecks adds up to.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
$16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, and $24,150 head of household, from the IRS's Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
How many paychecks are in a year?
52 if you're paid every week, 26 every two weeks, 24 twice a month and 12 once a month (IRS Publication 15-T). Paid every two weeks, two months of the year have three paychecks.
Sources
6 sources · read October 22, 2026
Every number on this page comes from irs.gov. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
- 1IRS: Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction)irs.gov
- 2IRS: Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates (2026 wage base $184,500)irs.gov
- 3IRS: Topic 560, Additional Medicare Taxirs.gov
- 4IRS: Topic 424, 401(k) plans (deferrals still owe Social Security and Medicare)irs.gov
- 5IRS: Publication 15-B, Table 2-1 (health benefits through work are exempt)irs.gov
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Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.